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Parker Probe Swings by Venus
11/5/2024

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is slated to have its seventh and final swing by our sister planet Venus on November 6^th. These encounters tighten its choreographed orbit around the Sun, with this last one bringing the craft to within 3.8 million miles of its surface. While the Sun is the principal object for investigation, the plucky spacecraft has also been helpful examining our sister planet. During the last encounter in July 202, scientists were surprised to find the spacecraft's camera could peer through the dense clouds all the way to its surface, revealing distinct features, such as continental regions, plains and plateaus.

Solar Maximum Reached
10/16/2024

NASA Logo In a conference today NASA, NOAA, and the International Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun is in its solar maximum period where sunspots, flares, and other activity are at their greatest. This period will last approximately a year according to scientists. Such activity can lead to aurora, such as those seen deep into the continental US last week. Scientists will not be able to determine the exact peak of this solar maximum period for many months because it's only identifiable after they've tracked a consistent decline in solar activity after that peak.

Check the Events Calendar

All Times are in Universal Time (UT)

2024-12-07
Jupiter at opposition

2024-12-08 15:27
First Quarter Moon

2024-12-13
Geminid meteor shower

2024-12-14 20:00
Jupiter 5° south of Moon

2024-12-15 09:02
Full Moon

2024-12-18 09:00
Mars 0.9° south of Moon, occultation in Artic

2024-12-22 22:18
Last Quarter Moon

2024-12-24 20:00
Spica 0.2° south of Moon occultation China and Pacific

2024-12-28 15:00
Antares 0.09° north of Moon, occultation Polynesia to South America

2024-12-30 22:27
New Moon (lunation 1262)

Explore our Galleries

Credit: Jäger, Rhemann, & Möller
Equipment: Canon 6Dmod DSLR and QHY600 cameras
This spectacular image of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was taken by Michael Jäger, Gerald Rhemann, and Dennis Möller on 2024 September 30, at 3.25 UT. It is a composite of 20 minutes of exposure taken with two imaging setups: a Leica Telyt 180/4.0 lens and QHY600 camera, and Canon 200/4.0 lens and Canon 6Dmod DSLR.

Credit: Theo Ramakers
Equipment: 40mm f/10 refractor with ASI174MM camera
On October 23rd veteran solar observer Theo Ramakers captured a striking prominence off the Sun's SW limb. Further in on the globe is a darker 'filament', which in reality is also a prominence viewed face-on

Credit: Gary Walker
Equipment: 254mm Mak-Cass with QHY5III-200M camera
Although not even 9" in size, Gary Walker captured a wealth of detail in his Mars image from Oct. 23rd. The north pole is shrouded in the brilliant Polar Hood, while Olympus Mons is midway near the terminator. Farther south (up) we also see some evening clouds near Tharsis

Credit: Gary Walker
Equipment: 254mm Mak-Cass with QHY5III-200M camera
As usual, Jupiter is a dynamic target in this late October image. Most obvious is the shrinking GRS, but several STB storms appear as ovals below it (with A3 most prominent). Above the GRS in the NEB we see WS-E following its merger with another white spot.

Credit: Luigi Morrone
Equipment: C14 Edge HD using Player One Uranus-C camera
Luigi Morrone captured this beautiful family portrait of Saturn. As the planet approaches equinox the moons start to cross in front and behind the globe. In this image he has capture the tiny shadow of Enceladus cast on the cloud tops just under the rings.